Oxford PharmaGenesis employees past and present were at the centre of the 2nd Annual HEOR Writing Workshop, held in Philadelphia on 17‑18 March 2016 and run by HealthEconomics.com and the Global Outcomes Group with sponsorship from the Mayes College of Healthcare Business and Policy. Attended by a mix of industry, agency and freelance medical writers, the workshop faculty included Senior HEOR Directors from several major pharmaceutical and medical device companies.
Oxford PharmaGenesis Commercial Director, Richard White, was an invited member of keynote discussion panels on both days of the workshop. On day 1, Richard, Rob Matheis (Executive Director and Head of Global Scientific Communications, Celgene), Caitlin Rothermel (Principal, MedLitera) and Darshan Kulkarni (Principal Attorney, Kulkarni Law Firm) addressed the challenges associated with communicating and publishing HEOR data. On day 2, Richard and Rob were joined by Evelyn Sarnes (Senior Director, Xcenda) and Kim Wishnow-Per (President, McCann Managed Markets) in a discussion of what customers want from HEOR data, and how these data can be translated into effective customer tools. In a packed schedule, Richard also ran Lunch and Learn sessions on both days, at which he showcased some of the innovative approaches that Oxford PharmaGenesis has developed to communicate HEOR data to non-specialist audiences.
The workshop provided a comprehensive grounding for participants in the fundamentals of HEOR, including systematic literature reviews, economic models, white papers, epidemiology and real-world evidence studies, and statistical techniques for analysing HEOR data. Alumni of Oxford PharmaGenesis figured prominently in the workshop, including co-chair of the meeting Tom Drake (Director, Global Outcomes Group) and faculty member Marcia Reinhart (Principal, Tantalus Medical Communications). The need for more effective medical writing in the HEOR arena was highlighted by workshop co-leader Patti Peeples (CEO, HealthEconomics.com), who presented survey data showing that more than 50% of pharmaceutical company HEOR executives felt that the quality of writing of HEOR studies was inadequate.
“With our Value Demonstration Practice, Oxford PharmaGenesis was the first communications consultancy to establish a specialist offering in medical writing for HEOR studies,” said Richard. “There remains a tremendous need for clear and compelling communication of often highly technical HEOR data, to allow clinicians and other non-specialists to understand its value. It was a privilege to contribute to educating the next generation of HEOR writers at this important workshop.”
For more information on Oxford PharmaGenesis HEOR writing services and Value Demonstration Practice, please click here.
